Chapter 24: Relenting
Although Ye Xian was the legitimate son of Marquis Changxing, he was born frail and disliked martial arts and violence. Exceptionally intelligent with a grandfather who was a Grand Academician of the Imperial Academy, it was said he could compose poetry effortlessly by age seven, yet he had no interest in pursuing scholarly honors. Until he turned twenty, the heir of Marquis Changxing showed no remarkable traits.
Later, when Emperor Shenzong ascended the throne and Marquis Changxing faced repeated suppression from Zhang Ju Lian, the heir finally entered officialdom. Rising swiftly through the ranks, he excelled in schemes and intrigues, outmaneuvering even the most seasoned veterans. Unpredictable and unconventional, his temperament clashed sharply with Chen Xuanqing’s upright nature, earning the latter’s deep disdain.
Jinchao still remembered many of his deeds.
When the founding emperor established the dynasty, he instituted a rule of frugality and simplicity, decreeing that every imperial meal must include a dish of tofu to remind the court of their humble origins. By Emperor Shenzong’s reign, the ruler grew weary of the bland tofu appearing daily at banquets. The heir then proposed a solution: the tofu could be made from the brains of birds. Outwardly, it would retain the appearance of smooth, white tofu, but the taste would be that of a rare delicacy.
Emperor Shenzong praised the idea and ordered it prepared. Each plate of tofu required hundreds, even thousands, of bird brains. Palace attendants followed suit, and soon, the "Thousand-Bird Tofu" became a trend among nobles and officials. In no time, the birds of Yanjing were hunted to extinction.
On another occasion, in the seventh year of the Wanli era, while overseeing the Court of Judicial Review, Ye Xian became curious about how many cuts could be made during the death by a thousand cuts. Using his authority, he had prisoners brought out and enthusiastically conducted the experiments himself. After executing thirty-seven individuals, he finally determined the maximum number of cuts possible.
The incident shocked the court. Many censors petitioned the emperor to punish Ye Xian, but the emperor, utterly fond of him, dismissed their pleas, stating that Marquis Changxing had fought for years to defend the borders—how could his son be condemned over a few criminals? The emperor then openly asked Ye Xian how to maximize the number of cuts.
Ye Xian slowly shook his head and replied, "No need for blades. Tie the person to a wooden frame, pour boiling water over them, then scrub with an iron brush until the bones are exposed..."
...Recalling Ye Xian’s later atrocities, Gu Jinzhao’s face paled. This living Yama King must never be provoked—otherwise, one wouldn’t even know how they died!
By nightfall, eight horn-glazed lanterns illuminated the Pavilion of Hanging Flowers, and a night banquet was laid out.
Tai Furen, assisted by Fifth Madam, took her seat but noticed Ye Xian’s absence. She beckoned Gu Jin Xiao and asked, "Why isn’t your uncle at the banquet?"
Gu Jin Xiao replied respectfully, "Grandmother, Uncle said he felt stifled here and wanted to stroll around."
Tai Furen frowned. "How inconsiderate! His illness hasn’t fully recovered—what if he has an episode in this mansion?"
Fifth Madam soothed her, "Mother, don’t worry about him. Since being treated by Xiao Qishan from Puding, Guizhou, his health has improved greatly... Please have this bowl of snow pear and lotus seed soup first. I’ll send someone to find him."
With Fifth Madam’s reassurance, Tai Furen’s expression softened. Yet, recalling Second Madam’s account of the afternoon’s events, she glanced at Fifth Madam’s delicate profile, unsure whether—or how—to broach the subject. Though she was Fifth Madam’s mother-in-law, she was also the legitimate daughter of Marquis Changxing...
In the end, Tai Furen swallowed her words.Fifth Madam had called over several guards, but before she could instruct them where to search, she saw a slender, tall young man approaching. His robes fluttered gracefully as the lamplight gradually illuminated his flawless jade-like profile, glowing softly like warm jade. She hurried forward to take his hand, her voice tinged with concern, "Where have you been? Why were you gone for so long..."
Ye Xian smiled faintly. "No need to worry, Second Sister. I went fishing." He held a straw rope tied to a yellow koi, still lively and thrashing. He dangled it playfully in front of Fifth Madam, as if seeking her praise.
Fifth Madam was torn between laughter and exasperation. "That fish belongs to Tai Furen! Never mind, I can't be bothered to scold you."
Ye Xian tucked the fish away and said, "This fish is peculiar. While the others swarmed for food, it refused to move. See—even fish have tempers! It knows not to accept handouts... though I wouldn’t call it clever."
Fifth Madam sighed. "What nonsense are you spouting? Go wash your hands and join the feast."
Ye Xian handed the fish to a nearby pageboy, instructing, "Put it in the large porcelain vat in my study, with the turtle." Afraid the fish might die, the boy immediately dashed off to find a water container.
Fifth Madam then spoke with Tai Furen. After the feast, Fourth Master Gu's family would soon depart, and it was unclear who should see them off.
Tai Furen said, "I should go too. After all these years, what grievances remain unresolved? Besides, Madam Ji is already so ill... Fetch two century-old ginseng roots from the storeroom for Fourth Master to take back..."
Fifth Madam nodded. "Understood. When I have time, I’ll also visit Fourth Sister-in-law."
By the time the feast ended, the night had deepened.
Gu Jinzhao finally left the ancestral home in a blue-canopied carriage. Her father decided to ride with her, having heard about the afternoon’s events at Slanting Abode. He eagerly questioned her about her embroidery.
"...Lan Er told me. I never knew before—why didn’t you mention it?"
Gu Jinzhao suddenly recalled how Concubine Song had wiped frost from his brows earlier and replied softly, "Father, to outdo others, one must never reveal their trump cards."
Her father frowned. "Outdo whom? What trump cards? Who would ever harm you?"
Jinzhao smiled and fell silent.
The next day, she went to pay respects to her mother. The two ginseng roots had already arrived, and Mama Xu brewed a strong ginseng-black chicken soup for her.
Jinzhao took the small celadon bowl with rhombus patterns and personally fed her mother. Since her last illness, her mother’s spirits had remained low, and she leaned weakly against a large pillow, listening as Jinzhao spoke slowly to her. After the soup, Jinzhao massaged her mother’s legs, fearing prolonged inactivity would cause discomfort.
Madam Ji said to her, "Your younger brother spent the whole day with me yesterday. I spoke of you to him... That child, for some reason, isn’t close to you at all. When you visit your maternal grandmother at twelve, take him along. He rarely stays at his grandmother’s home..."Jinchao nodded. She was well aware that Gu Jinrong disliked her. After all, Gu Lan had been instilling this notion in him for over a decade—it wouldn't change overnight. She would likely need to find ways to create distance between Jinrong and Gu Lan. With her mother's illness prone to sudden relapses, if Jinrong continued to heed Gu Lan's every word... the future would be fraught with difficulties.
Madam Ji took a shallow breath and spoke slowly, "Do you remember your second uncle?"
Jinchao smiled. "Of course. Second uncle loved raising crickets and birds—he once gifted me a pair of hwamei songbirds..."
Her maternal grandmother had only borne her eldest uncle and mother, while the second uncle was a concubine-born son who lived a leisurely life, tending to flowers and keeping birds and fish.
Madam Ji continued, "Your second uncle had a concubine named Yun Jin, originally his Bed Warming Maid, elevated only after your second aunt married in. Yun Xiang was Yun Jin's younger sister—they looked remarkably alike... Your father was quite fond of Yun Xiang back then."
Jinchao didn't understand why her mother suddenly brought up her second uncle's concubine and looked at her questioningly. Yet Madam Ji's expression remained calm. "Yun Xiang should have two elder sisters. One was released from service years ago and became a minor wife to a county magistrate's son. Yun Xiang once visited her—she'd borne a daughter..."
Suddenly sensing her mother's implication, Jinchao grasped her hand tightly, staring intently. "Mother..."
Madam Ji pressed on, voice tightening before fading, her eyes reddening, "That child would be fifteen now—your age. Ask Concubine Yun whether she's been married off yet..."
Jinchao grew quiet again, staring blankly at the shadow of tree branches cast upon the black-lacquered side table by the window. Incense smoke rose straight from the burner before dispersing slowly. The room felt gloomy—no fire burned in the hearth, and the dry-cold eaves blocked sunlight, leaving only faint shadows on her mother's face.
After a pause, she asked softly, "Did Miss Mo Xue tell you what happened at the ancestral home?"
Madam Ji nodded slightly. Without this incident, she might never have resolved herself... She'd never imagined Gu Lan would dare go so far. Though her Jinchao wasn't one to be bullied, hearing Mo Xue recount that day's events still wrenched her heart—what mother could bear seeing her daughter treated thus? Without Song Yiniang's backing, would Gu Lan have dared?
She knew Gu Dezhao doted on Song Yiniang. But after all these years, whatever affection they'd shared was long gone—what couldn't be kept would never stay. Though Dezhao had once defied his family to marry her, he'd taken concubines one after another regardless. She'd stopped caring long ago.
...But if Song Yiniang presumed upon that favor to harm her daughter—that was absolutely unforgivable!
Logically, she should rejoice at her mother's consent. Yet Gu Jinzhao felt no joy—she understood better than anyone why her mother agreed. Were it not for her and her brother's sake, she'd never have acquiesced.
Continuing to massage her mother's legs, she murmured gently, "Don't worry, Mother. I know what to do."
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